Three student-athletes, including a pair of Delaware Blue Hens, headlined the ninth installment of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) weekly swimming and diving awards for the 2017-18 season, announced on Wednesday.
Delaware sophomore Kevin Basch kicked off the new year with his second Men’s Swimmer of the Week award of the season, while fellow Blue Hen Jacob Lukens, a freshman, earned UD’s first Men’s Diver of the Week nod of the season. Drexel senior Tanja Kirmse became the second Dragon to take home the league’s Women’s Swimmer of the Week honor.
MEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK: Kevin Basch • Delaware
Sophomore | Pottstown, Pa.
Basch’s first weekly honor since Nov. 15 comes after the sophomore won two individual events, highlighted by a new school record in the 1,000 yard freestyle, in a home loss to Drexel over the weekend. He won the 1,000 free with a record time of 9:18.78, which currently ranks first against CAA competitors for the event this season, and 89th in Division I. In the 500 free, Basch captured first place in 4:32.49.
MEN’S DIVER OF THE WEEK: Jacob Lukens • Delaware
Freshman | Glenmoore, Pa.
Lukens provided a victory for the Hens on the 3-meter board against Drexel, scoring 281.40, and followed with a second-place finish on the 1-meter (243.82). He is the third different CAA freshman this season to win the weekly Men’s Diver of the Week honor.
WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK: Tanja Kirmse • Drexel
Senior | Landshut, Germany
After helping the Dragons defeat league foe Delaware on the road over the weekend, Kirmse was rewarded with her first weekly swimming award. The senior won three individual events on Saturday – the 100 and 500 free, and the 200 IM – along with swimming a leg on DU’s second place 400 free relay team. She timed 53.30 in the 100, 5:06.95 in the 500, and capped the day winning the 200 IM in 2:07.98 (good for No. 8 all-time in program history for the event).
Press release courtesy of CAA Athletics.